Effects of Shenfu injection on P38 MAPK phosphorylation and protein expression of focal cerebral ischemic mice

Objective:To investigate the effects of Shenfu injection (SFI) on middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) induced brain injury of mice and the phosphorylation of P38 mitogen activated protein kinase ( P38 MAPK) and protein expression levels in the ischemic cortex.Methods:Using MCAO mouse models, healthy male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 4 group:group A(the sham operated control group),group B(the sham operated trial group),group C(the control group)and group D(the trial group).The brain infarct volume and neural injury were determined by 2, 3, 5-Triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) and neurological deficits evaluation.Western blot combined with Gel Doc imaging systems was applied to examine the changes of P38 MAPK phosphorylation and protein expression in murine brain.Results:SFI significantly decreased the neurological score, reduced infarction size.Ischemia increased the phosphorylation levels of p38MAPK significantly in penumbra of mouse brain (P0.05, n=6 for each group).Furthermore, compared with the control, the phosphorylation levels of p38MAPK decreased more significantly in penumbra of trial ischemic group(P0.05, n=6).However, there was no significant change in P38MAPK protein expression.Conclusion:p38MAPK signal pathway might be involved in neuroprotective effect of SFI on focal ischemic brain of mice.